Dogs New Sleeping Habits

Question
My husband and I adopted a male lab/hound mix from the pound about a year and a half ago. He was four months old when we adopted him and he's now 1yr 7 months (neutered as a puppy). Ever since we got him, he's slept in a foyer area which has a baby gate that limits him to that space (3 ft x 4 ft). That's where his food and toys are. He's always slept fine in that space and slept through the night.  But in the last week, he goes in his gated area to sleep and after about 10-15 minutes he starts barking and whining. We've waited 10-15 minutes and he won't stop. We live in a condo so we don't want the neighbors to wake up (or complain!) about his late night barking. When we let him out of the gated area he runs up to our bedroom lies down, and sleeps just fine throughout the night.  Maybe this is the solution, but it seems so odd that he was fine sleeping in the gated area for nearly two years and now suddenly wants to sleep with us. Even after a full day of doggy daycare (which thoroughly exhausts him) he was still whining and barking at bedtime.
Can you think of any reason for this change?  Are we rewarding bad behavior by letting him sleep in our room after he barks/whines?
Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer
I wonder if something didn't startle him there last week and he might be anxious about being left there all night.  Is he sensitive to loud sounds?

Has something changed in that area?  A new cleaning solution used on the floor or walls?  Something new there that might look a bit strange in the dark?

I think your best option is to allow him to sleep with you - but allow him in your room from the start.  Don't wait until he cries.  If he's housetrained and doesn't chew anymore, there's no reason to confine him all night.  If you allow him to choose where he sleeps, you might find he'll go back to the foyer at some point.

Also, be sure he's feeling well.  Sudden behavioral changes in an adult dog can actually be medical problems.  Maybe he's uncomfortable from an injury sustained at day care or he's just not feeling good.  That can make some dogs "clingy".  You might want to have a vet do a quick exam to be sure.  

Let me know if you have further questions or comments.